Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 12:31:32 -0500
From: "David B. O'Donnell"
Subject: NGLTF Activist Alert 2/94
Originally posted by ljyngltf@aol.com; please respond ONLY to that address.
NGLTF ACTIVIST ALERT For February 1994
If you have an item you think should be included in ACTIVIST ALERT, please
mail or fax it to Robin Kane, Activist Alert editor, NGLTF Policy Institute,
1734 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009-4309; fax (202) 332-0207. Or E-MAIL
it to me at RAK NGLTF or RAKNGLTF@aol.com. All entries should be national
in scope or should allow for activists from around the country to respond.
CAMP SISTER SPIRIT NEEDS YOU
The feminist retreat Camp Sister Spirit continues to be the target of
anti-lesbian harassment and intimidation in the small town of Ovett,
Mississippi.
Wanda Henson, a native Mississippian, and her partner Brenda Henson, a
long-time resident of the state, bought a 120-acre farm in July to establish
a retreat and educational center for individuals and groups battling sexism,
homophobia, racism, illiteracy, domestic violence and more. Sister Spirit,
Inc. has provided a food bank, clothing distribution, counseling and
referrals, among other services, in Gulfport, Miss. for several years.
One Ovett resident, J.D. Hendry, in conjunction with Baptist ministers from
around the area, organized two hate-filled town meetings to condemn the
women and scheme ways to oust the women from town. Meanwhile, the retreat and
the Hensons have received numerous threats. A dead dog was draped over their
mailbox in November, armed men have been found trespassing on the land, a
telephone death threat was received Christmas eve, a bomb threat was sent by
mail, signs and rainbow flags marking the property are repeatedly stolen, and
most women who live at or visit the property are harassed and threatened by
Ovett residents at the general store. Hendry and others continue to insist
they will drive the women and Camp Sister Spirit from town.
Don't let the homophobes win - help the Hensons and the Camp Sister Spirit
volunteers realize their dreams. Groups around the country can hold
fundraisers; individuals can donate their services, time or money. The wish
list includes a power generator, c.b. station base and radios, surveillance
equipment, outdoor motion sensor lights, corrugated tin roofing material,
building supplies, postage stamps, and more. Send donations to Camp Sister
Spirit, P.O. Box 12, Ovett, MS 394
64 or call (601) 344-1411 for more information.
DEMAND AN END TO DISCRIMINATION CONTACT THE DOJ
NGLTF has asked the federal government to intervene in the situation in
Ovett, Miss. to insure the safety and rights of the Hensons. In December,
NGLTF sent a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno requesting specific action
from three agencies within the Department of Justice (DOJ). To date, the DOJ
Community Relations Service (CRS) has contacted the Hensons and local law
enforcement officials, the FBI has launched a criminal investigation because
a threat was sent to the Hensons through the U.S. mail, and DOJ officials met
with NGLTF staffers to discuss the situation. However, the Attorney General
has not yet formally responded to the NGLTF request for intervention and CRS
officials say they cannot directly intervene and mediate because sexual
orientation is not included in the agency's mandate nor in federal civil
rights laws.
Urge Attorney General Janet Reno to direct CRS to mediate the situation. Also
ask her to condemn the intimidation, harassment and violence aimed at the
Hensons and denounce all acts of anti-gay harassment and violence. Send
letters to Attorney General Janet Reno, Department of Justice, Constit
ution Ave. and 10th St., NW, Washington, DC 20530; or call 202-514-2001. The
federal civil rights bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation,
H.R. 431, will be reintroduced to the House of Representatives this month.
While the bill number has been held since last session, the actual bill was
not introduced because drafting of the new bill had not been completed. The
bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate.
Contact your Representative, and urge him or her to become a co-sponsor of
H.R. 431. Write to the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515;
or call (202) 224-3121.
COUNT & COUNTER HATE CRIMES
On March 8, NGLTF will release its eighth annual national report on
anti-gay/lesbian violence and victimization. In conjunction with that event,
anti-violence projects around the nation will release their statistics, hold
press conferences and organize vigils and other events.
Groups and individuals around the country are encouraged to hold events as a
part of this national day to Count and Counter Hate Crimes. If you or a group
are sponsoring an event, please let NGLTF know about it. Contact Martin
Hiraga, Anti-Violence Project Director, (202) 332-6483, ext. 3307.
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
The Hate Crime Statistics Act is due for reauthorization this year. The
federal law, passed in 1990, authorizes the FBI to count crimes based on
bias, including prejudice based on a victim's real or perceived sexual
orientation.
Urge Congressional leaders to reauthorize the legislation. Contact Sen. Paul
Simon, leader of the authorization effort in the Senate, at SD-462,
Washington, DC 20510; (202) 224-2152; and Rep. Charles Schumer, leaders of
the effort in the House, RHOB 2412, Washington, DC 20515; (202) 225-6616.
CONDOM ADS BACKLASH
Twelve years into the AIDS epidemic, the federal government has launched a
national media campaign promoting the use of condoms as effective prevention
of spreading HIV. While none of the ads feature explicitly gay characters,
the Right Wing has labeled them "offensive" simply because the ads advocate
condom usage. Both the networks and Congress are the targets of this Right
Wing backlash. Only the Fox network is airing the ads without a tag line
promoting abstinence and is not giving the ads only late-night time slots.
AIDS Action Council has launched a campaign to encourage the presentation of
the ads.
Demand that your Congressional representatives oppose attempts to restrict
the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies from sponsoring
HIV prevention programs that promote the use of condoms as an effective way
to prevent HIV infection. Contact your Senators at the U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC 20510; (202) 224-3121 and your Representative at U.S.
House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20500; (202) 225-3121.
Thank the CDC for its current efforts, and encourage the agency to develop
ads that specifically target gay, lesbian and bisexual viewers to increase
the effectiveness of the ad campaign. Write to Dr. David Satcher, CDC, 1600
Clifton Rd. NE, Mailstop D21, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Also contact the networks and ask that the ads be shown as frequently as
possible without time slot restrictions. ABC TV, 77 W. 66th St., NY, NY
10023; CBS TV, 51 W. 52nd St., NY, NY 10019; NBC TV, 30 Rockefeller Plaza,
NY, NY 10112; Fox Broadcasting, 1211 6
th Ave., NY, NY 10036.
ATTENTION DALLAS AREA ACTIVISTS
Organizing is now underway for the seventh annual Creating Change conference,
sponsored by NGLTF. Regularly scheduled host committee meetings are already
being held at the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Community Center. Upcoming meeting
dates are Feb. 16, March 23, April 20 and May 12.
If you'd like to be part of the Creating Change host committee, please attend
one of the upcoming meetings, held at 6:30 p.m. The community center is
located at 2701 Reagan at Brown. For more information contact Deb Elder at
the community>center, (214) 528-4233.
A QUESTIONABLE POLICY
First Interstate BankCorp last month removed sexual orientation from its
non-discrimination policy, saying the deletion was meant to create
"uniformity" with civil rights laws that vary state to state. NGLTF has
launched a campaign to encourage the company to revert back to its original
policy.
First Interstate customers are especially encouraged to send letters opposing
the deletion of sexual orientation from the non-discrimination policy. Send
letters to Exec. Vice President Lillian Gorman, First Interstate BankCorp,
P.O. Box 54068, T 7245, Los Angeles, CA 90054.